“The value of marriage isn’t finding the perfect partner, but by loving the imperfect partner perfectly.”
On their 55th wedding anniversary, I witnessed Nona and Benny Ricafort exchange vows.
"When we look back and wonder how we made it through, we realized;
Till death do us part."
It touched the hearts of all the guests there. Nona and Benny Ricafort both have a long list of titles and achievements, but today, I want to share the touching story of their family life.
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Nona and Benny Ricafort met 60 years ago in New York while both of them were studying. The courtship was less than 2 years and they got married in Manila. Nona being the eldest was the first wedding in the family while Benny was the youngest in the family of 10.
After their marriage, they stayed in Manila, then proceeded to London for Benny’s further studies at the London School of Economics.
They have been happily married following the dictum; “The value of marriage isn’t finding the perfect partner, but by loving the imperfect partner perfectly.”
Their marriage is a beautiful journey along life’s arduous path with two people smiling as they go lovingly…. hand in hand with a caring commitment to making a miracle forever. This aptly describes their “togetherness”.
Their individual achievements or respective “titles” were not a hindrance in their married life. They respected each other’s endeavors, as long as their activities were not on the way, in disturbing their responsibilities towards their family’s unity, happiness and peace. Benny‘s involvement in various organizations serving humanity complement that of Nona. They both served without counting the cost doing the impossible to reach their goals in the service of mankind.
Nona is a champion on building linkages. Blazing the trail is nothing new to this woman leader. Her innovations have spun off meaningful humanitarian services; manifested in many club projects wherein networking never became a problem because of her wide network of friends from different aspects of life. While these challenges would faze others similarly placed yet these would only serve as the guiding light to bring out, Nona’s sterling qualities as a visionary servant leader, with her mantra of being generous in sharing her 3 t’s / time, talent and treasure.
This is their married life!!! What about their children and grandchildren?
Benny and Nona are blessed with two children: a son and a daughter (both married) and 4 lovely and talented granddaughters.
Their love and unity as a couple and their family bonding, family vacations or simply bonding together every weekend, in whatever they did in life, through the years together: be it in business, in their respective profession and work, in any milestone or achievements of any family member, they have done as a family. All of them have reached great success and these were all done through the blessing of the Almighty. Indeed, a lovely successful couple with a happy family…THE RICAFORT FAMILY.
by Aldrin Nituma